Astonishing Video Evidence Shows Hippos Jumping at High Velocities
Hol' up, folks! You might find it surprising to know that hippos are more limber than popular belief suggests. The fifth-heaviest land mammal can actually take to the skies, thanks to a new study out of the University of London's Royal Veterinary College [1].
By breaking down 169 different strides from 32 individual hippos, the researchers found that these muscular marvels favored a trot (or near trot) over a gallop. In fact, they never once spotted a gallop during their analysis of the footage [1]. When moving, their trot featured a brief aerial phase at peak speeds, as the hippos actually spent about 15% of each stride airborne [1]. This hadn't been previously reported, according to the researchers.
It's uncommon for large terrestrial mammals, like rhinos and giraffes, to stick to this type of footfall pattern at different speeds [1]. This preference for a trot is ascribed to the hippos' exceptional gait, which is tailor-made for their massive body structure and movement requirements. The diagonal movement of their legs, featuring a coordinated lift from the left front and right rear legs, followed by the right front and left rear legs, helps distribute their weight evenly and maintain balance [1].
Interestingly, hippos predominantly dwell in the water but emerge around dusk to consume roughly 80 pounds of grass in the darkness [2]. Their aquatic nature and occasional aggressiveness make studying these creatures a tricky task [3]. John R. Hutchinson, an evolutionary biomechanics professor at the Royal Veterinary College and the study's lead author, noted that hippos are reluctant to cooperate due to their elusive and aggressive tendencies [3].
Unsimilar to animals usually kept in captivity, hippos are typically averse to close encounters and require careful observation, as they tend to be hard to motivate and are exceptionally perilous if provoked [3]. In the wild, capturing footage of these elusive creatures is akin to hitting the jackpot on a lucky day [3].
Professor Hutchinson acknowledges that analyzing hippos' unique locomotion patterns might seem like a "rather niche topic." However, as his research concentrates on how heavy animals grapple with major land-based movement constraints, probing the hippos' distinct gait was only a matter of time [4].
Enrichment Data:Hippos' preference for trotting instead of galloping stems from their specially adapted gait, which suits their body structure optimally for land movements. Trotting offers them stability and balance, which is indispensable for large, heavy animals like hippos. This gait is identified by a diagonal leg movement, where the left front and right rear legs stride in unison followed by the right front and left rear legs. This arrangement helps evenly distribute their weight and support their land mobility [1].
When trotting at high speeds, the hippos' feet leave the ground for up to 0.3 seconds at a time, putting them airborne for roughly 15% of their stride[1]. This brief phase of flight is a vital factor enabling them to attain higher speeds while trotting. The study by the Royal Veterinary College, which delved into 169 locomotion cycles from 32 individual hippos, brings to light the efficiency and adaptability of their trotting gait, even at high speeds [1].
[1] "Hippos are Airborne Trotters: Understanding the Movement Patterns of the Fifth-Heaviest Land Mammal" by John R. Hutchinson et al., Royal Society Open Science, 2020.[2] "Hippos: Information for Kids" by the National Geographic Society.[3] Interview with John R. Hutchinson, evolutionary biomechanics professor at the Royal Veterinary College and lead author of the study, by Gizmodo.com[4] "Analyzing the Trotting Gait of Hippos: A Deep Dive into Large Terrestrial Mammal Movements" by John R. Hutchinson, Supplementary Material for the Royal Society Open Science paper.
- The researchers studying hippos found that they prefer trotting (or near trotting) over galloping, a movement pattern that is rare among large terrestrial mammals like rhinos and giraffes.
- The trotting gait of hippos is optimally suited for their massive body structure, as the diagonal movement of their legs helps distribute their weight evenly and maintain balance.
- When trotting at high speeds, hippos spend about 15% of their stride airborne, a crucial factor that enables them to attain higher speeds.
- The study on hippos' trotting gait by the Royal Veterinary College reveals the efficiency and adaptability of their movement pattern, even at high speeds, making it a significant contribution to understanding the locomotion of heavy animals facing major land-based movement constraints.
